TRNAVA, Slovakia - Seth Ambroz (New Prague, Minn.) scored two goals, while Matt Van Voorhis (Edina, Minn./1-2--3) and Blake Pietila (Brighton, Mich./1-2--3) each notched three points as the U.S. National Under-17 Team skated past Russia, 5-2, here today in the opening game of the 2009 Under-17 Four Nations Cup.
"This was a great way to start the tournament for us," said Ron Rolston, head coach of Team USA. "We're happy to have won the game, but this is just one step. We've got to get better every time out because the other teams in this tournament will be doing the same."
Ambroz gave the U.S. the 1-0 lead when he tapped a Travis Boyd (Hopkins, Minn.) cross-crease feed past netminder Andrey Makarov at 12:30 of the first period for a power-play goal. Team USA peppered Makarov with 24 shots, while Matt McNeely (Burnsville, Minn.) made 10 saves in the opening stanza.
Just 2:08 into the second frame, Zac Larraza (Scottsdale, Ariz.) doubled the U.S. advantage with a power-play tally. The goal came after Larraza tipped Andy Ryan's (Brighton, Mich.) snap shot past Makarov from the top of the crease. Russia came back with a power-play goal of its own at 13:38 off the stick of Maxim Kazakov to cut the deficit in half. Van Voorhis made it 3-1 when his slap shot found its way through a screen and squeezed under Makarov's arm at 16:57.
Mikhail Grigorenko brought the Russians back within a goal just 4:31 into the final period after his shot made it past McNeely. Ambroz potted his second goal when he tipped Van Voorhis' shot into the net to make it 4-2 at 10:31. With just 41 seconds to play in regulation, Pietila skated behind the Russian net, walked out in front and slipped the puck under Makarov to ice the 5-2 victory for Team USA.
McNeely turned aside 22 shots to earn the win.
The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to action Friday when it meets host Slovakia at 11:30 a.m. EST.
NOTES: Team USA converted on four of its eight power plays and out shot Russia by a 59-24 margin today... Matt Van Voorhis and Blake Pietila are atop the team leader board with three points apiece. Seth Ambroz is third with two points... Goaltender Matt Mahalak (Monroe, Mich.) and forwards Ambroz and Austin Wuthrich (Anchorage, Alaska) were added to the U.S. National Under-17 Team roster for the 2009 Under-17 Four Nations Cup. Mahalak plays for the United States Hockey League's Youngstown Phantoms, Ambroz skates for the Omaha Lancers, also of the USHL and Wuthrich is a member of the Team Illinois Midget Major squad... Tonight's match-up marked the first international competition for all but three players on the U.S. roster. Defensemen Jake McCabe (Eau Claire, Wis.) and Connor Murphy (Dublin, Ohio) and Wuthrich each skated for the U.S. Under-17 Select Team at the 2009 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in August... The U.S. National Under-17 Team is one of five U.S. teams competing during the International Ice Hockey Federation's November international break. To keep up with all of the U.S. teams in action this week, visit usahockey.com.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
